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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #228185
Title: Detection of Cyanotoxins During Potable Water Treatment

Author
item WESTRICK, JUDY - LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIV.
item SOUTHWELL, B - LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIV.
item SZLAG, DAVID - LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIV.
item Zimba, Paul

Submitted to: American Waterworks Association Research Foundation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/21/2008
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The U.S. EPA recently listed three cyanotoxins as CCL3 candidate compounds, thereby requiring routine monitoring at potable water companies. This paper describes methodologies for toxin assessment, and considers cost/benefit aspects of the various methods. This paper will serve as a primer for water quality personnel in assessing presence of algal toxins in potable drinking water supplies.

Technical Abstract: In 2007, the U.S. EPA listed three cyanobacterial toxins on the CCL3 containment priority list for potable drinking waters. This paper describes all methodologies used for detection of these toxins, and assesses each on a cost/benefit basis. Methodologies for microcystin, cylindrospermopsin, and anatoxin detection are discussed, and include ELISA, inhibition assays, as well as HPLC/HPLC-MS methods. Considerations included for each of the methods are ease of use, selectivity, cost of equipment/setup, as well as known reproducibility/accuracy testing.